Digital Technology for Digital Living.
January 31, 2007
European nations fight with Apple over DRM
The Norwegian ombudsman has sided with a consumer council and a group of European nations that are fighting for Apple to change its Fairplay digital-rights-management (DRM) software that stops downloaded songs from iTunes from being played on competing mp3 players. The Norwegian ombudsman said that Apple’s iTunes service unfairly locks in consumers.
The fight which started in June last year includes European nations such as Germany, the Netherlands and France. Should Apple not open up its iTunes to other players they are threatening fines and total bans from operating in their countries.
In a statement from Torgeir Andrew Waterhouse, senior adviser to the The Norwegian Consumer Council he said “It doesn’t get any clearer than this, [Apple’s] Fairplay [DRM] is an illegal lock-in technology which main purpose is to lock the consumers to the total package provided by Apple and iTunes Music Store by technically blocking interoperability.”
The iTunes Music Store is currently selling 5 million songs a day.
Reference for posting: http://www.pcmag.com
AndyD | Comments (0) | Music
You could win a high tech toilet
US firm Roto-Rooter have announced that they will gave away their high tech toilet in an online sweepstake. The toilet affectionately known as the ‘Pimped Out John’ boasts a number of interesting features and gadgetry which will mean that you’ll never have to leave the toilet and that your gaming will never have to be interrupted.
The toilet features:
• 20-inch Philips LCD TV
• an Xbox 360 console
• a DVD player
• a Gateway EMachine laptop
• an iPod docking station with its own toilet-paper dispenser
• a TiVo DVR
• an Avanti refridgerator with beer tap
• an exercise bike
• an electric cup warmer
The online sweepstake is presumably only for US participants which is a shame for people outside the country as the high tech loo is a one of a kind with the ability to wow anyone.
Reference for posting: http://techdigest.tv
AndyD | Comments (0) | General
Teenagers clothes and gadgets cost £768
According to a survey (and what will probably come as no surprise to parents) teenagers are costing parents a small fortune for trendy clothes and gadgetry.
The survey, carried out by insurer Cornhill Direct, reveal that the trendiest of teenagers walk around in gear worth an incredible £768.46 every day.
The average teenager leaves the house in clothes worth £229.54, which includes jewellery and watches. Mobile phones, MP3 players and wallets can add another £300.
It is the gadgets in particular that are a cause for concern for insurers. 3 in 10 teenagers claimed that their gadgets had been lost or stolen from them and when a mobile phone is bought for an average £127.58 and a MP3 player for £150 insurers can’t be happy.
Reference for posting: http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk
AndyD | Comments (1) | General
January 30, 2007
The £9 DVD player from ASDA
There has got to be someone in the UK who does not own a dvd player. It may be a small percentage but there has to be a home out there that is still playing the same dodgy VHS tapes that everyone else played a decade ago. But now with the extremely low priced DVD player from ASDA that could all change.
Last year saw the launch of two new high definition state of the art disc format players, the Blu-ray and HD DVD players. Whilst some eager consumers are adopting the technology ASDA is offering the standard definition DVD player for a measly £9. That’s less than the price of an average newly released DVD.
From Thursday 25th January ASDA will be halving the price of the Duraband DVD player which originally cost £17.84 to £9.
There will be more than 80,000 of the DVD players hitting shelves and it will be on sale at every one of ASDA’s 316 stores and seven ASDA Living stores throughout the UK and Northern Ireland.
Argos and Tesco offer similar DVD players for roughly £18.
Reference for posting: http://uk.gizmodo.com/2007/01/29/asda_flogging_9_dvd_player.html
AndyD | Comments (1) | General
January 29, 2007
YouProfit with YouTube
In an effort to stay competitive with revenue sharing viral video sites like Revver, Chad Hurley, co-founder of YouTube, said that his site will start sharing profits with its millions of users. The announcement was made during Hurley’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland this past Saturday. Many active YouTube users have started removing their videos and reposting them on Revver so they can make some money off their hard work. Revver started sharing profits with their users back in October of 2005.
“We are getting an audience large enough where we have an opportunity to support creativity, to foster creativity through sharing revenue with our users… So in the coming months we are going to be opening that up” Hurley said.
How much will popular YouTube posters like The Wine Kone or Adam Wade start making off their videos? It’s still unknown. Hurley didn’t go into any payment details during his speech.
About 70 million videos are viewed daily on YouTube, which was sold to Google for $1.65 billion last year.
Be Social: digg story | methodshop
methodshop | Comments (1) | Broadband, Video
January 25, 2007
Bad news for both Blue Ray and HD-DVD
Bad news for both Blue Ray and HD-DVD as the number of sales of the next generation of optical disc format is far below what industry analysts had expected. The approximate number of players that shipped last year was 250,000 which was considerably lower than the rather optimistic 750,000 that were predicted.
The next generation format war is likely to echo of that of the war between Sony’s Betamax and the VHS format. Because of how that war turned out (VHS becoming the dominate format) consumers have remained cautious about which format to choose with many adopting a “wait and see” approach. That coupled with the high price of the technology have seen the players not selling as many as had been hoped.
But it is not just the consumer who is cautious about the format war. Both electronics producers and Movie companies have thrown their support to the different formats. Sony, Philips, Panasonic and others back Blu-ray. Microsoft, Intel and Toshiba back HD DVD.
Both Formats have different advantages. Blue-ray has a much greater data storage capacity whereas HD DVD’s are less expensive to produce and thus will cost less. Blue-ray also has the added benefit of being the format of choice for the Playstaion3 meaning that every PS3 user is bound to favour the Blu-ray format.
South Korea’s Electronics Giant, LG, announced it would release a combo Blu-ray/HD DVD player. However many are sceptical about a player that can run both formats citing that the player would be much too expensive for consumers.
Reference for posting: http://news.com.com
Gadgetman | Comments (1) | General
January 24, 2007
DIY Nintendo Wii Steering Wheel
You might remember hearing about a wave of wounded people when the Nintendo Wii first came out last November. A combination of physically unfit Wii owners and a weak Wiimote strap was causing people to accidentally do things like punch their dogs or dislocate knees. Well apparently everyone’s wounds have healed and they’re starting to experiment with their new gaming systems.
One ambitious Wii owner even decided to make his own steering wheel and upload a picture of it to GoNintendo.com. The official Wii steering wheel is included with most racing games like GT Pro Series and Monster 4X4: World Circuit; but why pay extra for a game bundled with a wheel when you can just make your own?
While this particular DIY wheel leaves a lot to be desired (especially when it comes to style points), I’ll give this lumpy homemade masterpiece an A+ for effort.
Be Social: digg story | methodshop
methodshop | Comments (0) | Toys
January 23, 2007
Heroes and Zeroes
Heroes is going digital. The hit American TV series on the the NBC network is relaunching its Web site with new interactive features coinciding with a batch of new original on-air episodes. NBC hopes the multiplatform strategy will deepen the “Heroes” mythos with additional content for Internet and mobile applications.
Some of these new digital offerings include a real-time, two-screen application that plays out on the PC along with each episode, commentary from cast members set to streamed episodes, and mobile content.
NBC is even making special viral clips to help promote Heroes on video sharing sites like YouTube. The latest Heroes clip is a parody called “Zeroes” about ordinary people with relatively pointless abilities. Check it out. If you are a fan of the show you’ll really enjoy it.
Jeff Gaspin, president of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment and Digital Content had this to say about the new online presence for Heroes in The Hollywood Reporter: “Heroes has proven itself a hit on-air and online, and these extensions of rich, original content will allow our audience unprecedented access to new levels of the show as they dig deeper.”
If you want to copy this video off of YouTube and save it on your hard drive, then check out this tutorial: Copy Videos Off YouTube.
Social: digg story | methodshop
methodshop | Comments Off | Video
January 18, 2007
Conan iPhone Commercial
Apparently Steve Jobs was holding back at last week’s Macworld Expo. Apple’s new iPhone can do a lot more than just play music, movie and make phone calls.
As you can see from this video, the research staff at Late Night with Conan O’Brien were able to uncover all of the iPhone’s features including camera, movie player, remote control, electric razor…
If you want to copy this video off of YouTube and save it on your hard drive, then check out this tutorial: Copy Videos Off YouTube.
social: youtube | digg story | methodshop
methodshop | Comments Off | Mobile Phone, Music
January 17, 2007
MoGo Wireless Bluetooth Mouse
The MoGo Wireless Mouse is a business-card sized, Bluetooth-enabled mouse that stores and recharges neatly inside (yes, inside…) your laptop’s PC card slot. To recharge your MoGo Mouse, just slide it into the empty PC card slot in your laptop. It will fully recharge in less than an hour and provide you with enough power for about 8 or 9 hours of use.
As you can imagine, the MoGo Mouse is specifically designed for people who spend a lot of time traveling like writers, reporters and sales reps. Other mice, even those meant for travelers, usually don’t cut it. Mini-mice (aka “walnut shells”) get lost in your hand and are difficult to maneuver, and the idea of carrying a full-sized mouse defeats the entire purpose of mobility on the go.
The MoGo Mouse is a natural fit for road warriors. Storing it inside you PC Card (PCMCIA) slot is pure genius and the fact that it charges there is just the icing on the cake. The only thing I’d like to see in future models is a scroll wheel. I know that the size of it makes it hard to have a wheel but maybe a touch wheel, like one some laptops, could have been possible.
“an excellent tool for the road warrior or… minimalist.” ~ GetUSB.info
If you spend a lot of time on the road with your laptop, then the MoGo Wireless Mouse will just make your life easier.
methodshop | Comments (1) | Wireless, Peripherals
January 14, 2007
Hot New Electronic Toys for Your Car
The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has been breaking barriers in automotive innovation for 40 years. From satellite radio and vehicle navigation to compressed audio and wireless connectivity, new mobile products are speeding into the mainstream - and now viewers have a chance to soak it all up right from the show floor in Las Vegas.
Gadgetman | Comments (0) | General
Wii Sports Pack From Joytech
For Nintendo Wii owners who want to take their gaming to the next level, Joytech have released their Sports pack. This pack of accessories can be attached to the Wii’s controller, the wiimote letting users experience a new level of sporting authenticity. They include a golf attachment, a tennis racket attachment and a steering wheel attachment.
The Sports Pack retails for just under twenty UK pounds and to get the most of the pack you would need to buy the games that correspond to the attachments. Wii Sports that is bundled with every console has a golf game and a tennis game so the Sports pack could be put to use from the offset. Also at launch game is Need For Speed Carbon, a racing game.
Whether this extra level of game immersion warrants its price tag is a matter of personal opinion, but I can imagine that a large percentage of Wii owners could happily go without.
Reference for posting: Joytech.net
Gadgetman | Comments (1) | Console
$100 Laptop is on its way
2008 should see the release of a Laptop that will only cost $100. The One Laptop per Child project are producing a Laptop that can be sold to the world’s poorest countries to help children’s learning and development.
This non-profit humanitarian project has worked with experts from both the academic world and industry to produce the laptop. The laptop is said to be flexible, power-efficient and durable and includes wireless mesh networking.
However there are a number of features that had to be omitted from the machine such as a hard drive, optical or floppy disk drives and fans. However many of these features can be connected via a USB port.
The first countries to sign up to buying the machine, which is officially dubbed XO, include Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Nigeria, Libya, Pakistan and Thailand.
Reference for posting: The BBC
Gadgetman | Comments Off | General
January 12, 2007
iPhone: Cisco vs Apple
If you were paying attention to all the hype building up to the Apple iPhone announcement on Tuesday, then you might recall the little snag concerning who actually owns the “iPhone” name.
Even though Apple unveiled the iPhone in San Francisco this week, Linksys, a division of Cisco Systems Inc., announced a product called the iPhone on December 18th, 2006. The Linksys iPhone is a Web-enabled telephone handset capable of making calls over the Internet using voice over Internet protocol (VOIP).
So how can two different companies lay claim to the “iPhone” name? That’s the problem… they can’t.
Linksys, actually owns the “iPhone” trademark because of a Cisco acquisition. A company called Infogear registered the “iPhone” name in 1996. Then Cisco then absorbed the “iPhone” trademark when it acquired Infogear in the year 2000.
So what happens now? It’s all up to the lawyers. Cisco filed a lawsuit against Apple yesterday in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco. Basically Cisco and Apple need to reach a settlement or Apple will have to call their iPhone something different like iChat Mobile.
According to the NY Post, Cisco thought it had reached a deal with Apple. The two companies were reportedly engaged in heated talks over the “iPhone” name the past few weeks leading up to the Apple iPhone announcement.
“We sent them final terms on Monday, but we never got approval back,” Cisco spokesman John Noh told The Post. “We’re very open to sharing the trademark. We made that clear. But then they went ahead and used the name without our permission.”
Apple has been trying to get the iPhone name away from Cisco since 2001 when they first released the iPod. Will Apple finally be successful? They obviously have something up their sleeve or they wouldn’t have halted talks with Cisco and just announced the iPhone this week. It will be interesting to see what happens these next few months.
Apple plans on releasing the iPhone in June 2007.
methodshop | Comments (1) | Mobile Phone, Music, Wireless, Portable, VOIP
January 10, 2007
PoweriZers - the latest Extreme Sport
There is something about Powerizers that will make them seemingly irresistible to man or boy. Perhaps its that these shoe attachments can make you jump 2m (7ft) in the air allowing you to pull of all manner of tricks such as back flips. They’ll allow you to leap 3m (10ft) for every stride and run at speeds of 20mph!
Powerizers have curved springs attached to the base, so when you press your feet downwards, the pressure of your weight creates gravitational energy. The springs push back to harness the energy, allowing you to jump to incredible heights and run with huge strides at amazing speeds.
However some tricks can seem daunting and may take a bit of experience with the Powerizer before the user is happy enough to try out the stunts. All users should wear sufficient crash protection and exercise extreme care when using them even when you are more experienced.
Powerizers retail for just under two hundred pounds which means that they are fairly accessible to the consumer. Powerizers come in a range of models designed for specific weights so make sure that you only purchase the Powerizers that match your weight.
Reference for posting: PoweriZers
Gadgetman | Comments Off | General
Apple Announces iPhone, Apple TV
Every once in a while a revolutionary product comes along that changes everything. Apple, a company known for innovation, has been very fortunate in this regard. In 1984 they introduced the world to the first Macintosh and changed personal computing forever. Then in 2001 Apple introduced the first iPod and redefined the music industry.
Today Apple introduced 3 revolutionary products: widescreen iPod, mobile phone, and internet communicator. But there’s a catch… these revolutionary products aren’t 3 separate devices. They are all rolled into one product called the iPhone ($499 4GB, $599 8GB).
The iPhone (GSM+EDGE) has a touchscreen interface with multitouch capabilities. That means you can use multiple fingers at the same time. How can such a small device have an advanced multitouch interface? The iPhone runs the Macintosh operating system OS X. How did Apple fit an entire operating system into a tiny phone? I don’t know. Magic?
The iPhone syncs to your computer just like your iPod. All your media (music, videos, podcasts, etc.) as well as contacts, email amd calendars will sync to your iPhone. You can even add any any IMAP or POP email account. Yahoo users will like this next perk. Yahoo is giving all iPhone owners free IMAP email. You normally have to pay extra for this feature.
Web browsing on a mobile phone was probably one of the worst user experiences you’ve ever encountered. Well those days are over. The iPhone uses the Safari browser and can smoothly navigate complicated sites like Google Maps.
And if all this iPhone business wasn’t enough, Steve Jobs also announed Apple TV ($299) - a way to enjoy your media on your big screen TV. Anything you put into iTunes (content from iTunes, DVDs you’ve ripped, videos from YouTube, etc.) can be wirelessly transmitted to your Apple TV box.
The Apple TV has 802.11 WiFi (b, g + n) and will automatically sync from your PC.
More Apple TV specs:
- 40GB HD
- 720p HD video
- componet
- RCA
- USB 2.0
- ethernet
- WiFi
- HDMI
methodshop | Comments Off | PVR, Music, Wireless, Video, Digital TV, Software
January 09, 2007
Zune vs Baseball Bat
On last Thursday’s episode of Mad Money, host Jim Cramer selected Apple Computer as his No. 2 growth stock of 2007.
Cramer picked Apple Computer over Microsoft and decided to vent his rage against Microsoft by smashing a new brown Zune with a baseball bat. In case you missed it, the Zune smashing video is now on YouTube.
Although Apple’s up more than 175% the last two years and more than 50% since July, Cramer believes Apple Computer will move higher because “picking stocks is not like flipping a coin.” There’s no balancing out that occurs, he said. Instead, “winners keep winning and “losers keep losing.”
Cramer considers Apple a winner that has changed the way people listen to music with the iPod and the iTunes Store. “Not only [Apple] a brand people trust and love, but it is cool… Microsoft’s Zune MP3 player will not be able to push past Apple.”
Cramer went on to say that there are always bears and short-sellers, but in Apple’s case “they are wrong and should get buried… [Apple] has a winning formula, and nothing is going against it.”
You can subscribe to the Mad Money “Lightning Round” video podcast in the iTunes Store here: Mad Money w/ Jim Cramer - The Lightning Round
methodshop | Comments (0) | Music, Video
January 08, 2007
Colorful Transcend USB Flash Drives
Tired of grey and black colored Flash drives? USB flash drives are now candy colored thanks to Transcend’s Jetflash V60.
The drives are available in four colors, with each color corresponding to a different storage capacity: orange is 512MB, blue is 1GB, red is 2GB and green is 4GB. All the Transcend drives come with basic security software including a program capable of locking your PC from prying eyes and wayward fingers alike.
A Transcend press release for the Jetflash V60 claims that “Now everyone can transfer to a paperless society.” Yes, Western civilization was just waiting for the V60 to appear in order to be convinced that a paperless society was viable.
Technical Details
- Fully compatible with Hi-Speed USB 2.0
- Easy Plug and Play installation
- Driverless (Only Windows®98SE needs the enclosed driver)
- USB powered. No external power or battery needed
- Partition & Security Function: Create a private partition with password protection
- Write Speed: 2 MBytes per Second
- Size (L x W x H): 61 x 18.6 x 9.8 mm
methodshop | Comments (0) | Portable
January 06, 2007
Olbermann = Internet Buzz
The Democrats may have wrested back control of power in Congress, but that hasn’t quieted the ire of American cable news broadcaster Keith Olbermann. The 47-year-old is known for his Special Commentary segments on MSNBC’s “Countdown With Keith Olbermann,” where he regularly tears apart US President George W. Bush.
Olbermann’s outspoken political views have also made him a hero/villain in the blogosphere. Olbermann’s show is a frequent topic of debate on both conservative and liberal political blogs and his “Special Commentary” segments are all over digital video websites like YouTube. It seems like every time Olbermann opens his mouth people sit down at their computers and start typing. Does Olbermann = Internet buzz?
The promotional executives at NBC must think so. They are taking advantage of all the attention Olbermann is getting online. Last week MSNBC ran a very ballsy blogad campaign with this Olbermann quote:
“The President of the United States owes this country an apology.”
The blogad campaign also featured an Olbermann desktop widget that pulls headlines from the shows RSS feed every 30 minutes. Even the biggest Olbermann junkie doesn’t need more Keith than that, right?
With all this hype on the Internet, you are probably wondering how Olbermann’s TV ratings are doing. Olbermann’s fast-paced melange of politics and pop culture has made “Countdown With Keith Olbermann” MSNBC’s top-rated show. Not bad for a former anchor of ESPN’s Sportscenter. Maybe Craig Kilborn should take some notes. His performance in Bench Warmers wasn’t exactly Oscar worthy.
methodshop | Comments (0) | General
January 04, 2007
Copy DVDs for Your iPod
Did you get a lot of DVDs for Christmas? Want to watch them on your iPod? For years, the best DVD ripping program, Handbrake, was only available for Mac. But the unthinkable has happened. Handbrake has been ported for Windows. It’s still in the experimental beta stages, but you can download a PC version of Handbrake now.
If you are unfamiliar with Handbrake, it’s a GPL’d multiplatform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 ripper/converter. Here’s a MethodShop.com tutorial on how to use Handbrake.
Features:
- Can encode directly from DVDs (even encrypted ones) or from VIDEO_TS folders
- Supports AC3, LPCM and MPEG audio tracks
- Outputs MP4, AVI or OGM files
- Outputs AAC, MP3 or Vorbis audio
- Supports 2-pass encoding
- Supports encoding of two audio tracks
- Includes a bitrate calculator
- Supports picture deinterlacing, cropping and scaling
Links:
PC users looking for a super DVD-to-iPod easy solution should use DVD Copy by InterVideo.
methodshop | Comments (2) | Portable, Video, Digital TV, Software
